Ian Pick, Ewingsdale
Recently the city of Bologna introduced an app to promote cycling and walking in their city.
Cycling and walking trips are awarded points not just on the distance travelled but weight is given to shorter trips, eg walking to the corner store rather than driving.
Points are redeemed at participating city businesses for free products, for example a free coffee or beer.
Any resident can download the app which records, via the phone GPS, the walking and cycling trips of the phone’s owner. Recording average journey speeds ensures honest compliance for points awarded.
If the Byron Shire Council adopted this idea it would be a win/win situation. It would cost the Council very little to introduce the app and the participating businesses would benefit from the increased custom that would be showered on them from grateful walkers and cyclists.
If implemented a significant number of short car trips would be eliminated.
This is an initiative the Council could introduce quickly, showing they are serious in promoting cycling and walking.
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